P-plater slapped with $2778 fine after ‘dangerous’ act in school zone

A 17-year-old P-plater has been slapped with a hefty fine of nearly $3000 after he was detected driving more than 50km over the speed limit while in an active school zone.

The teen was detected driving at 91km/h in the 40 zone in the Northern Beaches suburb of Balgowlah in Sydney at about 3pm on Monday.

The P1 provisional driver was seen undertaking traffic in a red Holden Commodore on Sydney Road.

NSW Police said the driver was witnessed speeding while passing "a bus stop full of school children right next to the roadway".

The driver, from neighbouring Seaforth, was stopped by officers and issued a fine for $2778 for exceeding the speed limit by more than 45km/h in a school zone.

The offence also came with seven demerit points, exceeding the P1 four demerit-point limit. The driver's licence was immediately suspended for six months while the vehicle's registration was confiscated for three months.

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"Drivers under 25 are over-represented in road crashes, which means drivers on their Ls or Ps are at more risk of being involved in a crash," the NSW Government states, explaining the lower demerit limits for provisional drivers.

The driver's offence was shared to Facebook by the Traffic and Highway Patrol Command, prompting a response of disbelief from many.

"That's so dangerous, especially in a school zone," one person said. Some even suggested the punishment was too lenient for the offence.

In 2019, an 18-year-old P-plater was caught more than 70km/h over the limit in Canberra.

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